Had a blowout today outside of Temecula, CA. Been sitting here 3 hours so far, and Coach Net has a service guy on the way to swap the rim/tire. I found a local shop that has a steel wheel and Michelin X Line Z load range H 275/80r22.5. Once this trip is over, I'll need to replace the Alcoa front rim. I believe it's a 8.25" wide wheel. Does anyone have the correct part number for a front?
Also, the tire beat the bottom of the coach a little. What should I use to seal that up so I don't get water intrusion?
SO, is the rim damaged???
If the rear wheels are the same, the wheel PN will be stamped on it.
And if the front wheel is removed, the PN WILL be on it.
Again, if the rim tire mating surface is not damage, do NOT buy an additional/throwaway rim!
Keith
For my 2004, FT told me that the steering wheels are Alcoa Aluminum 22.5 X 8.25 part #883643DB
DB at the end signifying "DuraBrite", the coating on the wheels.
The original component list for our 2003 shows a different Alcoa p/n (883624DB), so definitely look for the number on the damaged rim.
And if the RIM doesn't have it stamped on it, send FT an email with your VIN and build number. That's how I found out about mine. I was buying Centramics wheel balancers and Centramatics wanted to know about the RIMs.
I see the damage by the valve stem. You may be able to use it to mount a spare if it's only cosmetic damage. Spare tire!!
When you take the wheel off, the model # will be on the inside. Ours fronts are the same as the rear wheels. Alcoa aluminum wheels are not very expensive unless the road service fixes you up with one.
Pierce
I have one for sale on here. Contact me. We could remove the trie, and UPS it to you. Shipping probably $100.00
Alcoa 22.5 Wheel and Tire (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42719.0)
Chris
Chris, yours is a Budd wheel stud nut centered his is hub centered and metric.
Sounded like he got it resolved and should be back on the road by now. Said the ABS wiring ended up getting damaged and will tie up for the rest of the trip. Resolve later at home.
Scott
Found a steel wheel (now we look like the Clampet's), and a Michelin XLEZ in H load rating to get us done with this trip. As Scott said, the tire ripped the ABS cable out. The connector looked intact, but I don't know where the mate is. Figure that out when we get home.
So far the new Michelin feels a little softer at the same pressure as the Uniroyal RS20, and does generate a little more pressure when driving. 3psi higher than the left front after 30 mins on the road.
Glad you got free. Any more jacking pictures? I still like the idea of a saddle to hook under axle to lift up with flat tire then block axle and repeat till it's tall enough to install spare. May look into it after next month.
Drive safe
Scott
Keith I'm more curious about your experience with the blowout. Can you tell us what it was like and how you handled it? Those of us that have never had a blowout always wonder how it will be.
When Brad Metzger Tire shredded he said he just felt a mild shaking and pulled over before the tire completely was gone.
Glad you guys are okay.
Keith
Just a couple of questions when you get a chance to respond.....
1- how old was the Uniroyal that blew out?
2- do you run max sidewall pressure or recommended pressures off of the weight chart ?
3- do you use a TPMS?
Well, a bit more information. Maybe the reason the tire builds a bit more pressure and feels squishy is because the guy sold me a load range H and delivered a load range G tire! They are closed until tomorrow morning, and we were supposed to go home tonight, so now I have a decision to make.
Jacking questions - that was a cluster. The guy had an air actuated bottle jack, but it was too tall to get under the axle, yet too short to jack from the H frame. We ended up using the 4x4 blocks I have for blocking the chassis up to get underneath it, to give some extra height. That and a jack stand allowed him/us to go up to the needed height in steps. Took him about 3 hours all said and done. Glad I was watching...he asked about putting the jack under the frame of the generator to lift! ???
As for the experience, we were rolling along with the cruise set at 72, heard a bang that sounded like a pan falling out of a cabinet onto the floor. Initially, I didn't feel anything. My wife asked "what was that" and I replied that it sounded like something fell out of a cabinet. It took about 5-6 seconds, but then I started to feel some rightward pull and counter steered to stay in my lane. I noticed a beeping sound as I checked the gauges and looked over at my TPMS. It was beeping and showing 0 for pass front. It had been 114psi minutes before, at last glance. At that point I knew what had happened and told my wife to hold on. I started moving over to the right (we were in the 3rd lane) and the pull got a bit stronger. I was using about 90* left input to keep it straight. As we got to the shoulder, I applied some light braking. Got it stopped without too much fuss and went to look at the damage. Expecting the worst, I was happy to discover no real damage outside of the tire and rim. Looking back, I could see a skid mark from the right front about 100' or so behind the coach, so even light braking when only the rim is on the ground and scrubbing the tire, locked it up. This is likely what took out the rim. Since the ABS wire got pulled when the tire blew, no ABS to keep the rim from locking up.
The Uniroyal RS20 date codes are 3417...right at 4 years old. I've been happy with how they ride and perform...now need to decide if I replace just the one or two fronts, or the whole set...and if so, with what.
My steer axle weighs 11,400 loaded ready to go, full of fuel. The Uniroyal tire pressure sheet says 100psi cold for 11,560 axle weight, single tires, so that's what I've been running. While driving, they go up 12-14psi. The left front was at 114psi, as was the right front prior to blowout.
Yes, I run a Tire Minder A1As TPMS. While the beeping wasn't loud enough to grab by attention when it first happened, as I was looking around for an explanation, it was immediately apparent and caught my attention during my gauges check. It was beeping, flashing the red box around that tire and showing 0psi.
Max Load per Tire Single
6175 lbs
275-80r 22.5
Michelin XLEZ in G load rating
Here is the build sheet from our 2003 (6199) that shows all the Alcoa wheels to be the same.
Thanks guys. I've arrived at the tire shop that sold me the wrong tire and they are swapping it. Now I spot an coolant leak from the radiator. This just isn't my trip. I'll start another thread looking for rad shop suggestions in the Corona, CA area.
Finally made it home. The H rated Michelin does feel better, not a squishy, as the G rated tire. On the return trip, it ran 1psi higher than the Uniroyal on the drivers' side, even though the sun was on the driver's side. 100psi cold, max I saw was 116psi.
I've decided I will replace the 4 year old Uniroyal RS20 driver side tire and buy a new rim and another RS20 for the passenger side, and likely sell this steel rim and Michelin tire. I'll keep the current driver side tire as a spare. I've been very happy with the steering response, grip and overall performance of the Uniroyals.
The last thing I need to address is the ABS wire. It appears that the connector on the end of the cable simply pulled out of its mating connector. Does anyone have a picture they can share of where that ABS cable plugs in?